Posted on: Saturday, January 15, 2005
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Yoshino steps down from post
Advertiser Staff
City customer services director Kevin Yoshino stepped down from the Cabinet post yesterday, less than three weeks after Mayor Mufi Hannemann appointed him.
Yoshino said his wife is expecting the couple's first child, and he said he wants to be sure he has enough time for his family.
Hannemann said longtime city official Salvatore Lanzilotti would take Yoshino's place. Lanzilotti was director of the Emergency Services Department for the past eight years.
Mayor Mufi Hannemann said he will travel to Washington tomorrow to attend several events and meet with key federal officials.
Hannemann said he will go to the National Conference of Mayors winter meeting first, then to the inauguration of President Bush on Thursday before returning Friday.
He said he also would meet with Hawai'i's congressional delegation and with U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. Hannemann said he plans to seek federal money for transportation programs, such as ferry service and rail transit.
"I want both short-term solutions and long-term solutions," Hannemann said. "People want relief now, and I don't want to just get hung up with studies. I want action."
City budget director Mary Pat Waterhouse will serve as acting mayor in his absence, Hannemann said.
A sinkhole prompted police to close a section of Hamakua Drive in Kailua yesterday.
The 3-by-5-foot hole was discovered about 6:30 a.m. yesterday on Hamakua Drive between Kailua Road and Hekili Street, near Foodland. It was about 10 to 20 feet deep. A road crew made repairs, and the road was reopened by late afternoon.
Honolulu police are setting up sobriety checkpoints during the three-day weekend in an effort to deter alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers.
Beginning last night, checkpoints were planned at unannounced times and places through Tuesday. In the past week, three people have died in traffic accidents on O'ahu, with one established to be alcohol- or drug-related, police said. Speeding was a factor in the other two fatal accidents, police said.
"One of the guiding philosophies of the administration is to put the people of the City and County of Honolulu first, and looking at the demands of the position, as well as my ability to commit to those demands, at this stage in my life with a young child coming on board, I've decide to withdraw my name," Yoshino said. "I felt that would be fair to the people of the City and County of Honolulu, fair to the Hannemann administration so that they do not skip a beat, as well as fair to my family, which is going to have a new addition."
Salvatore Lanzilotti
Mayor heads to nation's capital
Sinkhole closes Kailua road
Weekend sobriety checkpoints set
